Trump threatens Chicago's mayor and Illinois governor with jail; they call him a 'nutcase' and a 'threat to democracy'
On October 8, in a post on the Truth Social platform, President Trump said that Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker "should be in jail," according to CBS NewsJohnson and Pritzker, in turn, believe that Trump is a "threat to democracy."
"The Mayor of Chicago should be in jail for failing to protect ICE officers!" Trump tweeted. "And so should Governor Pritzker!"
Speaking to reporters on October 7 at a federal workers' rally in downtown Chicago, Pritzker said of Trump: "Look, he's a coward. He'll say anything in front of the cameras. He likes to play the tough guy. Let him come and get me. Come on, come and get me. He's out of his mind, literally, he's unbalanced. This is a man so insecure that he goes nuts pretending he can arrest people for no reason. He can't. He won't. TACO—Trump always chickens out."
On the subject: Trump threatens to use the Insurrection Act to deploy troops to states that resist deportations
Johnson also spoke harshly about the president.
"This president is unstable, unbalanced, duplicitous, and, frankly, a threat to our democracy... I'm not going anywhere. I'll remain the mayor of this amazing city," Johnson said. "We will protect all of Chicago."
The president has repeatedly called Johnson and Pritzker weak and described Chicago as a crime hotbed, even though violent crime in the city is declining.
The two leaders have been sparring with Trump for weeks over his plan to send troops to Chicago.
On October 7, approximately 200 Texas National Guard troops arrived in the Chicago area, and another 300 Illinois National Guard troops were deployed there for at least 60 days to protect federal agents and facilities. This, despite the objections of Pritzker and Johnson, comes amid the Trump administration's ongoing immigration campaign in the region.
"This president is completely out of control, and now, more than ever, is the time for all working people in our country to unite," Johnson urged.
Pritzker promised to use "every lever" at the state's disposal to oppose the troop deployment. The state of Illinois and the city of Chicago have filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block the decision, and a federal judge is expected to rule on their request for a temporary restraining order as early as October 9.
Arrests, raids, and protests have become a daily occurrence. ICE's presence in Chicago has increased dramatically since the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) launched Operation Midway Blitz in early September.
On October 7, Mayor Johnson signed an executive order prohibiting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal agencies from using city property for civil immigration enforcement.
This order prohibits federal authorities from using city-owned or controlled parking lots, vacant lots, and garages as sites, processing facilities, or bases for operations related to civil immigration enforcement.
Meanwhile, Pritzker has repeatedly criticized Trump for his use of federal forces, most recently for deploying National Guard troops to Illinois. This occurred amid clashes between protesters and federal agents at the ICE processing center in Broadview, Illinois. More than a dozen protesters have been arrested there in the past few weeks.
On the evening of October 7, Pritzker condemned federal immigration enforcement in Chicago.
"What's happening strikes fear into the hearts of all Chicagoans, and it's not just undocumented people," Pritzker emphasized during a discussion with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz on the evening of October 7. "Black American citizens are being stopped simply because of their skin color. They're being forced to show documentation proving their American citizenship."
Both governors believe the Trump administration is deliberately targeting Democratic-dominated states.
Pritzker is calling on governors across the country to condemn the deployment of National Guard troops. He announced on social media that Illinois may withdraw from the National Governors Association due to the current situation.
"If the National Governors Association decides to stand aside, Illinois will have no choice but to withdraw from the organization," Pritzker wrote. "We must stand united against the idea that Donald Trump would call in the National Guard against our will."
The National Governors Association represents the chief executives of all 50 states and includes politicians of diverse views. California Governor Gavin Newsom has also threatened to leave the organization.
CBS News Chicago asked the White House why the president is calling for the arrest of Pritzker and Johnson and on what grounds their arrest might be carried out.
"J.B. Pritzker and Brandon Johnson have blood on their hands. These failed leaders stood by while innocent Americans were repeatedly subjected to violence," said White House press secretary Abigail Jackson. "Instead of acting and stopping the crime, these Trump-obsessed clowns choose to allow the violence to continue and attack the president for wanting to make their city safe again."
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President Trump has been calling for the imprisonment of his political opponents for years, but the Justice Department has recently begun to act on some of those calls. Former FBI Director James Comey has been indicted on federal charges of lying to Congress.
Comey pleaded not guilty on October 8, and his lawyer said he intends to seek dismissal of the case on several grounds: retaliation, unlawful prosecution, and the questionable legality of Lindsey Halligan's appointment as acting U.S. Attorney.
Read also on ForumDaily:
Body language and attempts to 'look American': Immigrants try to outsmart ICE agents
Helicopters and chemicals: Immigration agents in Chicago are acting very aggressively
A US citizen is seeking $50 million in compensation for injuries caused by ICE agents during raids.
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